Incite Pictures/Cine Qua Non Inc. New York, New York

Olga Deshchenko

Incite Pictures/Cine Qua Non Inc. – New York, New York

I have always considered summer to be a time to relax, sleep late and forget about school and homework for just three short months. However, I decided to utilize my vacation time differently this past summer when I took on an internship at a non-profit documentary film organization in New York City called Incite Pictures/Cine Qua Non. I spent most of my weekdays getting up early and taking the subway to a small but welcoming office in Manhattan, in close proximity of Times Square and Broadway.

The office space is shared by two innovative and inspiring producers who are the owners and partners of Incite Pictures, Marion Lipschutz and Rose Rosenblatt. Dan Greenman, an intelligent and interesting multi-tasker, is the office manager. A few interns, friends and colleagues dropped by the office from time to time, but I spent the most time getting to know and working side by side with these three people.

This summer, I was the only intern who was present at the office full time, five days a week. Because of this, I got to work on a wide variety of projects; some of them were key to the function of the organization, while others were secondary. Regardless of the timeliness of the tasks, however, all of them were important. I was never treated like an underappreciated intern, who fetched coffee and spent eight hours a day stapling stacks of paper together. My work was important to Incite Pictures and over the summer I was able to observe its results in several final outcomes.

When I stepped into the office in late June, the two producers were in the midst of cutting and editing their latest documentary project, a thrilling story about Native American youth, their involvement with politics and reproductive rights. While editing the footage to tell this compelling story in a concise and creative way, funding for the documentary became a priority. Along with Marion, I began to work on the Sundance Documentary Fund Proposal, a lengthy and detailed document that would determine if Incite Pictures would receive production funds for their latest project.

I was responsible for several areas of research, writing, fact checking and editing. Proposal writing is a long and intricate process that requires many additions and a lot of editing as new and useful information is dug up. I spent much of my time researching Native American history and politics on the internet, as well as the many public libraries that New York City has to offer. I can confidently say that I am a professional at navigating research at the libraries and can find pretty much anything.

I did not have much experience in such extensive proposal writing, but I focused on the fact that the main purpose of this piece of work was to convince the Sundance Documentary Fund that this project must be funded because it has incredible significance in the realm of social justice and political issues. However, this was not my only motivation to work on the proposal as sufficiently as possible. I was also extremely intrigued by the nature of the documentary. The film addresses several issues that Native American tribes face today, which prior to my internship, I knew nothing about. I was working and learning at the same time, which elevated the value of my experience.

Aside from looking and writing biographies, gathering contact information and researching organizations and consultants for the proposal I was involved in another exciting project at Incite Pictures. I was able to screen the documentary in the process of its creation, thus providing suggestions, criticism and comments about its progression. At first, I was a little intimidated. Who am I to judge the work of these experienced and brilliant filmmakers? Are my comments even worth anything?

Eventually, I got over my concerns and was involved in giving suggestions and criticisms during the screening process. I felt great because the producers listened to what I had to say and took it into consideration, even though I was just some intern. I am a Journalism major and an assistant editor for the university school paper. Transferring my editing abilities and knowledge from print journalism to film was an exciting highlight of my internship. I was glad that I was able to help with the direction of the film, and because of my work outside the editing room, I was closely connected to the subject and characters of the documentary.

Although I worked on the proposal throughout my ten weeks at the organization, I did a lot of small and administrative stuff as well. It did not bother me doing it at all, because while I took care of FedEx or other small errands for Incite Pictures, my producers were able to focus on the pressing tasks. A lot of the times, I was asked to go to another office somewhere in the city, to drop off a sample of the film at another organization or pick something up for the editing room. I specifically enjoyed those tasks because even though I live in New York, I take it for granted. I have not been to many areas which I visited for the first time because of Incite Pictures. I explored different neighborhoods and learned the streets to the point where I can navigate there easily. I was also away here at UMass Amherst during the school year and dearly missed the gloriousness of my city.

The atmosphere of the office is friendly and relaxed. There is no dress code and the work schedule is very flexible. Such a comfortable working environment really made a difference; because of the people I worked with, getting up at 8 a.m. did not bother me once. I still cannot refer to Marion or Rose as my “boss.” I was never treated like someone who simply carries out orders, and I appreciate that.

Another extensive project I worked on involved my experience as a college student. Marion and Rose were asked to teach a research documentary class at the NewSchool in New York next spring. Marion asked for my help with the syllabus, and I got to modify, find readings and suggest discussion questions and documentaries for the class. I spent some time watching films and looking for great scenes to be shown in class. I also ordered review copies of books from publishing companies and searched for interesting reading material to be used for the class. It was a fascinating experience, to be on the side of a professor rather than the student. Marion was looking for a student perspective on the class and I loved providing suggestions to make the class fun, informative and worthwhile.

While working on a documentary, the two producers of Incite Pictures also look into other ideas, either for simultaneous or future projects. Other interns and part time employees gather information, do research and some filming of these projects. They scout for interesting subjects and carry out interviews with some possible characters. Towards the end of my internship, I got a chance to join Kristine, a part time employee, to go out and interview a perspective character. She was an elderly and fascinating woman; a social butterfly and an avid fan of ballroom dancing. I held the camera and got the chance to ask her questions. It was really fun and reflective of my future career aspirations.

I had a great time at Incite Pictures and my only challenge was trying to stay on the same page as Marion the whole time I was there. She is a brilliant individual, with a distinctive trail of reasoning. When I first got to the organization, I felt anxious because I felt like I could not understand what exactly she wanted from me. I also felt self-conscious about the writing that I had done for the proposal; Marion did not use most of what I wrote for it. However, as the weeks went by, I learned that asking questions is not frowned upon, even if I thought the questions were silly. Dan was also a big help in reassuring me that just because Marion did not use what I wrote did not automatically make me a bad writer. She has been writing proposals for years and knows the quality of the work that these documents require. As I got more comfortable around Marion, I realized that my worries were empty and unnecessary.

The internship at Incite Pictures this summer definitely contributed to my larger career goals. I am considering becoming a journalist because of my sense of curiosity and love for the written word. I am also thinking about getting my law degree because of my passion for social justice issues, with hopes of being involved in philanthropy in one form or another as well. The variety of tasks that I was involved in gave me a taste of what my possible careers might be like. Journalism is about variety, a constant awareness of the world and information around you, quick processing and continuous changing of pace. Of course, it involves a lot of writing and research as well. At my internship I gained a valuable look into what it is like to multitask, explore all angles of a certain subject and coming up with creative ways to present information. As for my desire for a law career, I did a lot of research and analysis, which will be helpful once I get to law school. Even just screening the documentary requires a critical eye and I was able to polish my skills and improve them to a great extent. Because Incite Pictures is a non-profit organization, I also got a taste of the work involved in philanthropy and how difficult it is. A lot of work goes into keeping a non-profit alive and it is usually a small, dedicated group of people that make it happen. I am glad to say that I can carry over what I learned this summer not only into my academics, but into my future career, whatever it may be.

The three most important skills and characteristics I have developed as a result of my internship are better research skills, multitasking and outgoingness. I spent the majority of my time doing different kinds of research and it definitely paid off. I am now confident in my attempts to find something and I am sure that the information is out there and I will find it, one way or another. I learned how to multitask because of the several projects that went on at Incite Pictures. I had to do a little bit of everything without getting overwhelmed and eventually I became good at it. I focused not on speed but on quality. Such a skill is more than helpful to an overachieving college student. I was not shy per se prior to my internship, but I would not approach people with so much ease as I did this summer. I had to contact several people- some were prominent scholars, professors, attorneys, teachers- by whom I was intimidated. However, when I was asked to speak to someone or to go see someone, I realized that there is nothing to be afraid of. I am much more comfortable with approaching and speaking with people, regardless of the matter or their scope of knowledge and prominence.

Initially, I had hoped to learn more about how a small, non-profit organization functions and particularly, how a documentary film company address social justice issues in that context. My internship went far beyond my expectations and benefited me greatly. I met some amazing and inspiring people and learned all that I had wanted to plus so much more.

I think the greatest benefits that I personally took away were the learning experience, inspiration and realization that the means to achieve social justice have various mediums. The work of the producers Marion and Rose addresses abortion, women’s rights, sexual health, politics, diversity, background and reproductive health issues. The visual impact and the sensory strength of the stories they tell influence thousands of people. The documentaries they make are just one of the ways that social justice issues are exposed to the world. I have done a lot of community service up to the point of my internship, but I never thought that one may serve the public good by documenting stories of incidents and inspiring people who take the fight for justice into their own hands.

The internship helped me to see that whether it is in a survival center in Amherst, Massachusetts or on the ninth floor office in Manhattan, New York, attempts to achieve social justice are ubiquitous. Such a realization fuels me with motivation to go on and fight for the issues that I care about most, whether it is through direct action or by helping out a non-profit organization that is leaving permanent marks on several communities in its scope.

For potential interns at Incite Pictures, I suggest to come in with an open mind and a thirst for knowledge. Not only will you be learning about how a documentary company functions, how a non-profit works and about the issues the organization is exploring at the time, but you will also be in one of the most amazing cities in the world. I live in Brooklyn, New York and even I marveled at the beauty of Manhattan every time I left the office to complete some task. Be aware that you will be meeting many people who come from different backgrounds and whose resumes hold impressive accomplishments. If you get the chance, do not hesitate to ask them questions and seek more information from them. Marion and Rose are extremely knowledgeable, friendly and understanding. Do not be afraid to ask questions, provide suggestions or ask for advice. They are great resources and always seem to find creative solutions to any problem that arises. If you are new to New York, Dan is the man! He is well read and can tell you where to enjoy a good meal or what attractions are in Brooklyn or the city that may be of interest. More importantly, when all that research seems endless, he can always provide you with humor that will relieve the weight of the work and put a smile on your face.

Do not be afraid to explore the city that you are in. Take advantage of the amazing resources that you have and do not be afraid to take on new tasks, such as going out to some location for an interview or looking for a potentially good character for another project. I recommend this internship to communication, journalism, media and film students, especially those who are eager to learn as much as they can about several media outlets and the possibilities that lie within them. Immerse yourself into the location, people and life around you and it will reward you beyond your expectations. Incite Pictures is a wonderful organization that uses unconventional means to present the social issues it is trying to tackle; being a part of it, if only just for ten weeks, is an extremely meaningful and exciting experience.